Kingston Theatre , was a theatre in Kingston, Jamaica , between 1775 and 1838. It was a major cultural centre of the island during its duration and had a good reputation also outside of the island, giving Jamaica a name of cultural sophistication, and it remained the main theatre of Jamaica during its history.
17-544: The professional theatre had been performed in Jamaica for the first time in 1733, but the first permanent theatre company was not installed until the British Theatre Company of John Moody, which came to Kingston in 1746 and given its first permanent theatre building in "New Theatre" or King's Store on Harbour Street seven years later. This company, which was from 1749 managed by David Douglass , united with
34-462: A period of great popularity. It became somewhat notorious for the frequent fights which occurred, some of them due to racial tension. The theatre operated again in 1827–29, and was employed for a number of different entertainments. In 1838, the building was deemed to be too decrepit and marked for demolition, but was destroyed by fire. It was succeeded by the Theatre Royal, Kingston , which
51-638: The Old American Company in 1758 and left for North America, and when it returned to Jamaica in 1774, the old building, having been in disuse for many years, was no longer regarded sufficient. The Old American Company successfully asked the colonial government for a new theatre building, and the Kingston Theatre was inaugurated in the Parade area in 1775. Kingston Theatre was reportedly relatively small, but it played an important role as
68-842: The Southwark Theatre in Philadelphia in 1766, which was the first permanent theatre structure in North America. He chose to stage The Prince of Parthia by Thomas Godfrey at the Southwark on April 24, 1767, becoming the first production in the United States of a play written by an American. The John Street Theatre in New York was built by Douglass and the American Company in 1767. In 1774,
85-546: The Ward Theatre in his honour. It was closed in 1982 for structural repairs, then in 1986 adopted by the Ward Theatre Foundation to operate and maintain, under a 25-year lease agreement. David Douglass (actor) David Douglass (1720 – 1786), was a British-American stage actor and theatre manager . He was the managing director of the Old American Company between 1758 and 1779. Douglass
102-705: The Company when they returned to the Thirteen Colonies from Jamaica. Douglass had his limitations: Alexander Graydon described him as "rather a decent than shining actor". However, he was a capable manager and he gave North America its first Falstaff and King John . Douglass built the Society Hill Theatre in Philadelphia in 1759, with his company performing there for six months before protests halted theatrical works there. He built
119-507: The Kingston Theatre was used for concerts, circus performances, amateur theatre and other activities for the next years. In 1790–1803, it was managed by private owners. The building was expanded in 1814, and reportedly had 700 seats in 1821. Kingston Theatre again operated as a theatre in 1812–1822, during which it enjoyed a period of great popularity. It became somewhat notorious for the frequent fights which occurred, some of them due to racial tension. The theatre operated again in 1827–29, and
136-549: The Old American Company returned to Jamaica. When they returned to Jamaica, the old building, having been in disuse for many years, was no longer regarded sufficient. The Old American Company under Douglass successfully asked the colonial government for a new theater building, and the Kingston Theatre was inaugurated on the Parade area in 1775. They had great success in Jamaica. David Douglass served in
153-703: The island's main venue and as a part of the official representational life of the British Governor and the high society life of the Jamaican Planter aristocracy. It enjoyed success during the American Revolutionary War when performances were staged three to four times a week and the boxes of the theatre were leased by the members of the planter elite. Old American Company left Jamaica for the United States in 1785, and
170-486: The island, giving Jamaica a name of cultural sophistication, and it remained the main theatre of Jamaica during its history. The professional theatre had been performed in Jamaica for the first time in 1733, but the first permanent theatre company was not installed until the British Theatre Company of John Moody, which came to Kingston in 1746 and given its first permanent theatre building in "New Theatre" or King's Store on Harbour Street seven years later. This company, which
187-590: The office of 'Master of the Revels', responsible of the representational festivities of the Governor, in 1779–80. David Douglass remained in Jamaica when the Company returned to the United States in 1785. Kingston Theatre Kingston Theatre , was a theatre in Kingston, Jamaica , between 1775 and 1838. It was a major cultural centre of the island during its duration and had a good reputation also outside of
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#1732802103459204-417: The planter elite. Old American Company left Jamaica for the United States in 1785, and the Kingston Theatre was used for concerts, circus performances, amateur theatre and other activities for the next years. In 1790–1803, it was managed by private owners. The building was expanded in 1814, and reportedly had 700 seats in 1821. Kingston Theatre again operated as a theatre in 1812–1822, during which it enjoyed
221-498: Was a member of the British Theatre Company of John Moody, which became the first permanent theater company in Jamaica when they came to Kingston in 1746; they were given their first permanent playhouse in "New Theatre" or King's Store on Harbour Street seven years later. Douglass became the manager of the company in 1749. He married Sarah Hallam Douglass , the director of the Old American Company , and took over as manager with his stepson Lewis Hallam Jr. as co-manager. He accompanied
238-529: Was employed for a number of different entertainments. In 1838, the building was deemed to be too decrepit and marked for demolition, but was destroyed by fire. It was succeeded by the Theatre Royal, Kingston , which was opened in 1840 and was destroyed in the 1907 Kingston earthquake . In 1912 Charles James Ward built a new theatre on the site, presenting it to the "Mayor and Council of the City of Kingston" (later Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation), who named it
255-434: Was from 1749 managed by David Douglass , united with the Old American Company in 1758 and left for North America, and when it returned to Jamaica in 1774, the old building, having been in disuse for many years, was no longer regarded sufficient. The Old American Company successfully asked the colonial government for a new theatre building, and the Kingston Theatre was inaugurated in the Parade area in 1775. Kingston Theatre
272-421: Was opened in 1840 and was destroyed in the 1907 Kingston earthquake . In 1912 Charles James Ward built a new theatre on the site, presenting it to the "Mayor and Council of the City of Kingston" (later Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation), who named it the Ward Theatre in his honour. It was closed in 1982 for structural repairs, then in 1986 adopted by the Ward Theatre Foundation to operate and maintain, under
289-405: Was reportedly relatively small, but it played an important role as the island's main venue and as a part of the official representational life of the British Governor and the high society life of the Jamaican Planter aristocracy. It enjoyed success during the American Revolutionary War when performances were staged three to four times a week and the boxes of the theatre were leased by the members of
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